She tried to text Davidson, but her brain kept tripping up, her hands shaking, the gloves making it all the more difficult. She needed to get out of there, get some air, get her head on straight.
Because after tonight, everything was going to change.
Out beyond the Hudson River, the rolling hills of the Catskills looked lavender in the moonlight, an ethereal sight that only made Ari feel more alone, more confused. She’d wandered out to the gardens behind the house, trying to decide how to tell Davidson about the painting, but now that the cool night air had cleared her head, she was rethinking it.
Davidson had always believed that Ari’s father had double-crossed them. He and the others had agreed that they couldn’t waste precious resources seeking vengeance for a man who’d betrayed his crew, no matter that the man was Ari’s own flesh and blood. As far as Davidson was concerned, it was a business decision, plain and simple. She didn’t have to like it, but she had to live with it.
Now, Ari leaned against an oak tree that stood guard at the edge of the garden, its leaves shivering in the gentle breeze, and closed her eyes.
What the hell should I do?
Davidson was hell-bent on taking the artwork in this house—it was worth a fortune, probably the biggest score the crew had ever attempted. If he discovered the painting and anything else from the missing cache, he’d likely just fence it, no love lost. Ari could try to reason with him, but in the end he’d likely tell her to let it go, to move on as the rest of them had.
And after five agonizing years, the only piece of possible evidence in her father’s murder would vanish again.
No. She couldn’t let that happen. If Ari was going to trace that painting back to her father—to the man who killed him—she needed to do it alone.
And that meant going back inside, finishing the job Davidson had sent her here to do, and coming up with a solid plan before Davidson and Vincent made their next move.
She’d just decided to leave the gardens and head back to the event when she was unexpectedly corralled against the oak tree, strong arms encircling her from behind, a voice hot and dangerous in her ear.
“Come with me. Don’t make a sound.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE ART WORLD was small and incestuous, Jared reminded himself. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility for the woman to be here. A coincidence, yes. But not impossible. She seemed to know the inner workings of the art world like no one else; perhaps she’d heard about the fundraiser and decided to attend. Perhaps she was a companion to one of his guests. Or maybe she was employed by the Children’s Museum—she did say that she had a work thing tonight.
You’re a fool, Blackwell. A bloody fool.
No matter his justifications—his hopes—Jared could no longer deny the fact that the woman was more than a bit dodgy. He’d followed her to the gardens with every intention of confronting her. But by the time he’d gotten her into the guesthouse, his priorities had changed.
“You look beautiful,” he said, loving the way her bare shoulders glowed in the moonlight, and the elegant braid twisted around the crown of her head like a soft, amber halo.
She smiled, but didn’t say anything. In the dim light he couldn’t read her expression, though she’d come with him willingly, almost eagerly. Still, she hadn’t uttered more than a surprised greeting, offering no explanation for her presence at his fundraiser, or—more importantly—for why she’d been sneaking around upstairs.
He hadn’t asked her about that yet. Part of him was almost afraid to hear the answer, afraid he’d have no choice but to send her away for good.
Had Hastings sent her to spy, to get close to him and find out his deepest, darkest secrets? If that were the case, both the woman and the CEO of his soon-to-be acquisition would be sorely disappointed. Any secrets he’d had were covered by the tabloids last year.
Besides, the idea seemed a bit preposterous, even for Hastings. The old man was a huge pain in Jared’s ass, but he was a by-the-book pain in the ass.
Whatever this woman was up to, it was her own brand of trouble.
Trouble that Jared couldn’t seem to get enough of.
What are you up to, love?
“So this was your work thing?” he asked, the two of them standing toe-to-toe in the darkened foyer of the guesthouse. The sparks between them were as undeniable as ever, quickly burning Jared’s resolve to ash.
“Yes,” she said. “And your boring party, I see.”
Jared smirked. “What are the chances?”
“I was wondering the same thing.”
“Do you work for the museum?” he asked.
“The Children’s Museum?” She shook her head. “No, I’m just a… a consultant. But my company is a major supporter of their work. When we heard about the event, we couldn’t pass it up.”
“I see.” Jared relaxed, but only slightly. Even if her story were true, it didn’t explain why she’d been snooping upstairs, just like she’d been snooping at the auction last weekend. “Have you been inside yet?”
“I… yes. But it’s so overwhelming in there.” She wrinkled her nose, the most adorable look of distaste Jared had ever seen. “I kind of hate parties, to be honest.”
“That makes two of us,” Jared said.
“We’re practically fugitives,” she said, glancing around the foyer. “Hiding like a couple of kids who don’t want to go home for supper.”
“The opposite of party crashers.”
“Party dogders.” She laughed, a delightful, musical sound that stirred something deep within him.
A woman with a laugh like that couldn’t be all bad, could she?
“I don’t suppose we might finally exchange names?” He was trying to find a subtle way to tell her that it was his house, his overwhelming party. But he regretted the question instantly. He’d broken the rules again, pushed her harder than he’d meant to.
“No.” The woman lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry. I… I should probably just get back inside. I need to make an appearance, and—”
Jared silenced her with a kiss, something he’d wanted to do since he’d first seen her in the foyer of the main house an hour ago. Even as he’d followed her upstairs, watching from the darkness as she snuck into the guest bedroom and closed the door, he’d wanted to kiss her. To taste those lips, feel her warm breath, feel her soft tongue sliding into his mouth.
Fuck, this is a bad idea. But it feels so, so right.
She sighed in his arms, her body pressed so tightly against him he could feel her nipples, swollen and stiff beneath her dress.
“I’ve missed you terribly,” he whispered, running his thumb along her lower lip. She opened her mouth, closing her eyes as he slipped his thumb inside.
“Do you still want to leave me, love?” He drew his thumb from her mouth, dragging it down the front of her dress to her nipple.
She shook her head and leaned into his touch, her breath ragged against his neck.
“Tell me what you want,” he whispered. “Don’t be shy.”
“I want more,” she said. “I want your cock. I want you to fuck my mouth, to let me take you in deep.”
Jared’s cock thickened at her words. “Are you sure that’s—”
“Yes.” She knelt before him, her hands sliding down his chest to the zipper on his pants. In a single, fluid motion she freed his stiff cock, grasped it in her firm, warm hands.
Her touch was fucking incredible.
Screw his control. He’d given that up the moment he’d seen her in the foyer. She wasn’t just here for a fundraiser, that was certain, and Jared didn’t know how much longer either of them could continue this make-believe game. But for now, she was his, kneeling before him, licking her lips as she prepared to suck his cock.
“I want to taste you.” She teased him with her tongue, circling the tip and driving him wild. “To suck you hard.”
He couldn’t hold back. With both hands Jared grabbed the back of her head, guiding his cock
straight into her throat.
Her eyes fluttered closed as she took him in deep, stroking him with her eager lips and tongue, moaning against his flesh. He’d missed her so much—her touch, her lips, everything about her driving him wild.
She pulled back, dragging her tongue along his shaft as he slid out of her mouth, her breath hot on his engorged head. With a smoldering gaze, she looked up at him and said, “I want you to fuck my mouth, take me as hard as you want me.”
He almost came right there, but she closed her lips around him again, and he regained control, guiding her as she sucked him hungrily.
“Take it,” he commanded. “That’s it. Take it in deep.”
This wasn’t like the night at the auction, hiding in the closet and doing his damnedest to keep quiet. This was his property, a small guesthouse tucked away from all the people at the party, from all the prying eyes and ears. He didn’t have to hold back here.
Neither of them did.
“You’re amazing,” he said, his fingers knotting in her silky hair, loosening her braid until it her locks cascaded down around her shoulders. God, everything she did felt so fucking good, so hot. With every stroke of her tongue, his climax built, threatening to tear through his body.
“More,” she said, speaking around a mouthful of his cock. “Harder.”
“As you wish.” He fucked her hot, wet mouth as hard as he’d wanted to fuck her delectable pussy, thrusting into her throat as she massaged his balls. When she slipped a hand behind him and cupped his ass, driving him deeper into her mouth, he lost it, pumping her harder and faster, pistoning his hips until he couldn’t take it any more. His orgasm exploded from his cock in a hot torrent that slid down her throat, his legs shaking, his feral growl like an animal in the woods.
Swallowing his release, the woman slid his cock out of her mouth slowly, a mischievous grin lighting up her face.
Jared cupped her chin in his hand. “Bloody hell, woman.”
“We should probably…” she gestured toward the door, rising to her feet and smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress.
“Nice try,” he said.
She raised an eyebrow in question.
“Do you really think I’d let you get away with that?” he asked, sliding his arms around her waist. He found the zipper at the back of her dress and tugged it down slowly, his fingers tracing the path of her bared flesh. “I know you’re wet right now. I know you want me to do things to you, all the dirty things we’ve been talking about on the phone. Isn’t that right, love?”
Her dress fell to the floor, pooling at her feet like black water. Jared pressed his mouth against her nipple, sucking it hard through the white lace of her bra while his fingers slipped down the front of her panties. Just as he’d predicted, she was soaked with desire, his skin gliding easily over her slippery flesh.
“What if someone comes?” she said, barely holding on.
“Oh, someone will come. You.”
“But this house—”
“Don’t worry,” he said, still stroking, teasing her outer lips with a finger. “I know the owner.”
As she moaned beneath his touch, Jared gave her a final command. “We’re not leaving this house until you come all over my cock, screaming for mercy. Understood?”
The hard slap on her bare ass was shocking, a jolt of passion that left a white-hot sting in its wake, drenching Ari’s throbbing pussy with desire.
He’d already eaten her out, bringing her to ecstasy with his tongue and lips, and now he smacked her again, then stroked her gently, soothing her heated flesh, murmuring against her ear in a tone so deep and sexy it almost made her come for the second time.
She was face down on a bed in a garden guesthouse, her cries of passion muffled by the pillows, her ass in the air, every inch of her body craving his touch. Hard, and then soft. Fierce, and then soothing. The flood of sensations made her drunk and dizzy, desperate for more.
She couldn’t believe he was here, their paths criss-crossing from Manhattan to Dutchess County, brought together by art and money and chance. His presence at the fundraiser complicated things—Ari still had plenty of work to do before the evening’s end—but she didn’t regret running into him.
Kissing him.
Sucking him.
Sliding into bed with him.
Nothing in her life had ever felt so good, so right.
So incredibly, mind-blowingly perfect.
“Don’t stop,” she begged him, her words a hoarse whisper. “I need you so bad. Please.”
He trailed his fingers over the soft curve of her ass, and everything melted away: her job, the LaPorte painting, the lies she’d told, the risks. All that mattered was her sexy, commanding Brit, his caress lighting a fire deep in her belly, his kiss a drug on which she’d happily overdose.
Another slap stung her skin, and then he slid his hand up her back, fisting the hair at the nape of her neck. He tugged hard as he positioned himself on top of her, licking her neck, her ear. His cock was rock hard between the cheeks of her ass, so ready for what they’d both been fantasizing about all week.
“Remind me again how you like to be fucked,” he said, dipping a finger between her thighs and stroking her. “Because I know you’re ready for me, love.”
“Rough,” she panted.
He stopped touching her just long enough to roll on a condom, teasing her slick entrance with the head of his cock, driving her insane. “What’s that, darling?”
“I want you to fuck me hard and fast.” She squirmed before him, arching her back and spreading her legs expectantly. “Please. I can’t take it. Please don’t make me wait another minute.”
“No, I don’t think I will.” He smacked her ass again, then thrust into her hard, digging his fingers into the soft flesh around her hips. He drove into her from behind, and then pulled out slowly, slamming back into her slick pussy with a force that only made her want more.
She screamed into the pillow, thrusting her hips back to bring him in deeper, her body so needy, so hot for him. Beneath her flesh, the sheets felt soft and cool, a delicious contrast to the heat from the strong, muscled force pinning her down her from behind.
After all of Ari’s fantasies, the memories of his touch in the closet at the auction, their sinful nighttime phone calls, nothing could’ve prepared her for this. For the feel of his punishing cock, the way he dominated her without ever once taking it for granted.
In and out he plunged, knowing exactly how hard to push, when to slow down, when to drive in deep. His cock filled her completely, stretching her wide as he plundered her again and again and again until she was nearly unconscious from the pleasure, the heat, the bliss of submitting.
With one hand fisted in her hair, he tugged her head back, brushing his lips against the shell of her ear. “I’ve been wanting to do this ever since I saw you at that penthouse,” he said. “All I could think about was having you in my bed, fucking you deep, feeling your pussy grip me like this.”
She whimpered beneath him, the commanding, masculine sound of his voice bringing her closer to the edge.
He shifted backward, grabbing her thighs and spreading her even wider, stroking her pussy with his huge, perfect cock. Her walls tightened around him as her climax started to build, her entire body wound as tight as a drum, waiting for the release.
With both of his strong, unyielding hands, the man squeezed her ass, and then slid his hands up her back again, grabbing her shoulders.
“Yes,” she said. “Fuck me hard, just like that.”
With a groan he slid out of her, then slammed against her ass, driving his cock inside her again and again, fucking her so hard her breasts bounced beneath her, her nipples stiff against the crisp sheets, her flesh covered in sweat.
Ari had never been fucked like this, so raw and primal and perfect. Her entire body was on fire, drenched with lust. She wanted to make it last, to remember it, but she was slipping away, her body tensing for the release that was so, so close…
“You want to come,” the man said, reaching around her to stroke a finger over her clit. “I can feel it. Your pussy wants to come all over this cock.”
“Yes,” she whimpered, barely conscious. God, his touch, his words, everything he did turned her into jelly. She couldn’t hold out another minute…
“Come for me, love. Come for me hard.” He slid into her deep, and with a final stinging slap against her ass, she came with a force like a storm, her cries nearly shattering the windows as the man grasped her hips and pounded, driving himself right over the edge with her, growling in her ear with sound so guttural, so possessive, it would never, ever leave her.
For a few minutes, neither of them moved, content in their hot embrace, their bare flesh cooling in the night air, the crickets outside singing them into a blissful state of peace. Ari’s entire body seemed to vibrate, blood thrumming through her veins, her nerve endings electrified from his touch.
Despite the jumble of nerves in her belly, she hadn’t felt so fucking good—no, so fucking alive—in years.
The man shifted to his side, pulling her with him, caging her against his chest with strong arms. “The thing is,” he said, nuzzling her hair, “we’ve got a problem.”
We’ve got several, Ari thought, but she wasn’t quite ready to think about reality. “What’s wrong, Stranger?”
“There are nearly three hundred people in the house,” he said, “and I’ve got zero interest in going back inside.”
“That makes two of us,” she said, loving the feel of his bare chest and abs against her back, his lips near her ear.
“I’m afraid I’ve developed quite a taste for you.” The Brit nibbled her neck. “I don’t think I can stop after just one go-round.”
Ari felt the same way, and wondered how long they could continue their steamy affair. She’d already broken so many rules…
But God, this was so worth it.
A lot of men thought they knew how to dominate a woman, but for them it was all about ego gratification. She’d been disappointed in the bedroom more times than she could count, most notably—and most often—by Vincent, the snake.
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